WATCH: USC wide receiver Mario Williams makes spectacular touchdown catch vs Washington State
The USC Trojans have extended their lead against the Washington State Cougars, and it came on a free play. On third-and-13 from just outside the red zone, Washington state jumped offsides, but since the play wasn’t a free run to the quarterback, the referees let it play out. USC quarterback Caleb Williams sat in the pocket and rocketed the ball to one of his star receivers Mario Williams.
On the back end of the play, just inside the end zone, Williams makes a spectacular sliding catch getting his hands underneath the ball for the touchdown.
Mario Williams has been Caleb Williams’s favorite target tonight. So far, he is caught four passes for 82 yards and has both of his quarterbacks’ touchdown receptions. USC now leads 24-14 in the third quarter, with Washington State threatening.
Washington State offensive lineman ejected for controversial targeting call while blocking
In one of the more bizarre calls of this season to date, the Washington State Cougars had an offensive lineman disqualified from the game for a targeting penalty. The call was made when quarterback Cameron Ward attempted to scramble. As Ward attempts to scramble outside the pocket, circling around his offensive lineman Grant Stephens, Stephens throws a blindside block at a USC defender, knocking him to the ground.
That caught the attention of the referees, who flagged him for the blindside block, then went and reviewed the hit. The officials ultimately declared that he made forcible contact with the head and neck area of the defender and was ejected for targeting.
Fox football rules expert and former official Dean Blandino explained why the hit was, in fact, a targeting foul.
“So the first thing is a defender that gets hit with a blindside block is defenseless,” said Blandino. “So then, you look at the blocker. Is he leading with the head, shoulder, or forearm? It looks like he’s leading with that shoulder into the head-neck area. Definitely attacking.
“It’s absolutely a forcible hit. And to me, the elements are there; replay can add the foul for targeting. To me, if I’m making this decision, it does appear to be targeting. You could see that shoulder right to the head and neck area.”